Using Your Calendar – Part 1 – Color Coding Works

February 21, 2011 by amymunns 2 Comments

Happy Presidents’ Day!

This week we start a new series – Using Your Calendar.  During this series,  I will present ways to make the most out of your calendar – which will ultimately make your life much easier.

Using Your Calendar – Part 1 – Color Coding Works.

Whether you use an electronic calendar (phone or computer based) or a paper version; color coding will make your life easier.  I admit, it will take a little time to set up the system and then get used to it.  Once you do, I think you’ll be amazed with the results.

This technique works for your family/personal calendars or for your professional calendar.  There are two distinct ways that this method will work.

1. The one calendar system – if you put everyone’s activities, appointments or commitments on one calendar, many electronic calendars will give you the option of color coding each entry.

2. Multiple calendar system – again, using the electronic versions, many programs will let you create multiple calendars that can be color coded and viewed individually or all at once.

Remember to choose colors that represent the person or project that is being identified.  And for paper versions of calendars, pull out the trusty highlighters and highlight each entry.

Here is an example what my calendar looks like for any give week, just click on the link:

Amy Calendar

Here you will notice, I put every activity that everyone in my family is doing, along with my personal and work appointments.  Every person and project has a different color.  For me, it is second nature to recognize which appointment belong to whom.

Here is how I break it down:

• TJ – Green
• Joey – Orange
• Amy Personal  – Red
• Amy Professional – Purple
• Family – Pink
• General Reminders (birthdays, holidays, etc.) – Blue

I picked colors that I can easily identify with each person.  For example, TJ’s favorite color is green and Joey looks good in orange, my favorite color is red and Professional and Purple both start with “P”.  You get the picture.

Over time, you will get used to seeing the colors and know exactly what they represent.  If you are consistent, it won’t take much time at all.

~Amy

Amy Munns

Time Saver/Time Management Guru
Finding more minutes in your day
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“This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. “
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

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